System and Method For Multiplexing Wireless Devices

ABSTRACT

A system that multiplexes a plurality of wireless devices with a wireless network, each of the wireless devices bring a common telephone number. The system assigns a predefined access time for each of said wireless devices. The system also assigns a predefined length of time during which each of said wireless devices will have access to said wireless network. A sequence of accesses to the wireless network can then be initiated in accordance with the predefined access time and the predefined length of time such that a maximum of one of the wireless devices accesses said local network at a tine.

The present application claims priority from Canadian Patent ApplicationNo. 2,331,558. The present invention relates generally to wirelesscommunication, and specifically to a system and method for multiplexingwireless devices having a single telephone number.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cellular telephony has been designed to permit a wireless device to senddate and or voice messages over a wireless communications networkproviding the device is able to transmit its device identification codesappropriate to the network on which it is attempting to transmit.Wireless communications is a global and rapidly expanding technology.The advent of wireless cellular telephony for digital informationapplications such as pagers, e-mail and internet, point of saleterminals, and the like, to say nothing of the wireless telephone voicesystems applications is compounding this resource depletion problem.Several alternative systems and networks are common, including analogueand digital voice systems, data only systems, cellemerty, short databurst packetization, microburst technologies and the like.

Current technology uses identifier codes for each wireless device in theform of an Electronic Serial Number (ESN) and a Mobile IdentificationNumber (MIN). It is standard practice to assign one and only onewireless network system calling number, such as a cellular telephonenumber (TN), to one and only one mobile device having a unique ESN/MINcombination of identification codes. Several patents, such as U.S. Pat.No. 5,765,107 issued to Korowajcsuk, U.S. Pat. No. 5,905,949 issued toHawkes et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,870,672 issued to Stoddard et al, and U.S.Pat. No. 6,097,939 issued to Jacobs, have attempted to develop systemsto detect the use of more than one mobile device using the same ESN/MINsuch that fraudulent use can be traced. This misuse involves having morethat one device with the same MIN/ESN pair ID such that the originaldevice assigned the ID gets charged the costs for any use of the networkregardless of which actual device uses it. Fraud can be involved if anyof tie non-original devices are used without authorization by the ownerof the original device.

Every time a wireless network communications device is powered, that isthe transceiver is powered on, the device transmits its unique code,such as the ESN/MIN pair, to the wireless network communications systemwith which the device is designed to function. As long as the device ispowered the device also send the code at fixed or random, but repeated,intervals to the wireless system with which it is designed to function.Additionally, every time the device attempts to send a message orcommunication to the network system, the device also transmits itsunique ESN and/or MIN codes to that system during the initialization ofthat communication. The system checks the codes to verify that thedevice is allowed to use the system, and, if verified, allows the deviceto conduct the communications utilizing the system.

It is the global expansion that is using up the precious resources ofradio frequency bandwidth and phone number assignment. However, ifmultiple devices use the same ESN/MIN pair for the same phone number, itmay appear as if someone is attempting to fraudulently utilize thedevice. Thus there is a need for a system and method that allowsmultiple devices to share common identifiers without falsely creating afraud alert.

SUMMARY OF THE WNWNTION

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention there is provideda method for multiplexing a plurality of wireless devices with awireless network, each of the wireless devices sharing a commontelephone number. The method assigns a predefined access time for eachof said wireless devices. The method also assigns a predefined length oftime during which each of said wireless devices will have access to saidwireless network. A sequence of accesses to the wireless network canthen be initiated in accordance with the predefined access tine and thepredefined length of time such that a maximum of one of the wirelessdevices accesses said local network at a time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of exampleonly with reference to the following drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system (priorart);

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a sequence of multiple units ofwireless communications devices each having unique MIN/ESN and TN (priorart);

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a sequence of multiple units ofwireless communications devices each having the same, shared, MIN/ESNand TN;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a sequence of multiple units ofwireless devices as illustrated in FIG. 3, each having 15 minutes ofaccess per hour;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a sequence of operations of wirelessnetwork control channels, voice or data channels, unit control channels,and unit response action when a call is processed (prior art);

FIG. 6(a) is a schematic diagram of a system of four units, each havingshared MIN/ESN and TN and bi-directional linking capabilities with thecentral controller;

FIG. 6(b) is a schematic diagram of a sequence of four units, eachhaving shared MIN/ESN and TN illustrating re-programmable timing;

FIG. 7(a) is a schematic diagram of a system of four units, each havingshared MIN/ESN and TN plus each having one unique MIN (#) illustratingbi-directional linkage to the wireless network and thus bi-directionallinkage to the central controller;

FIG. 7(b) is a schematic diagram of a sequence of operations for awireless network, the units control channels transceiver and the unitsvoice or data channels transceiver activity and response actioncontrolled by the units control channel transceiver for switching fromunique MIN (#) and shared ESN operation to shared MIN/ESN and TNoperation;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the sequencing of operation of thewireless network control channels, the units control channels and theunits voice or data channels function and response action controlled bythe central controller controlling the units unique MIN (#) to receive avoice call;

FIGS. 9(a) and (b) are schematic diagrams of a process flow for theremote unit controlling access to the wireless network;

FIG. 9(c) is a schematic diagram of a fuzzy logic selection algorithm asimplemented in FIGS. 9(a) and (b); and

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a process flow for the remote unitcontrolling incorporating fuzzy logic of FIG. 9(c) to process thecentral controller commands to switch to and from voice or controlchannels calls.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREPERRED EMBODIMENTS

For convenience, like numerals in the description refer to likestructures in the drawings. Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic view of acellular network system is illustrated generally by numeral 1. Thenetwork system comprises a central controller or computer 6, a pluralityof wireless devices 2, a receiving tower 4, standard telephony systems5, and a controller or computer 6. The network includes one or morecentral controllers. In the present embodiment, there are four wirelessdevices, each communicating with the wireless network via radiofrequencies 3. The radio frequencies are communicated to the nearbyreceiving tower 4, which transfers the communications via landlines orother telephony systems 5. The communication can then be transferred tothe worldwide telephone system via the central controller or computer 6.Eat device 2, is issued a unique Electronic Serial Number (ESN) 7, bythe device manufacturer according to prevailing legal requirements.

The central controller or computer 6, serves a specific geographic area.This geographic area may range from a single town to entire countries orcontinents. The central controllers are connected with each other via anetwork such as a telephony network or the Internet. The centralcontrollers serving specific geographic areas may be located, forexample, at electric meter reading/billing agencies connected to remotemeters (Unit three), vending machine operations headquarters (not shown)or rental vehicle agencies (Unit four), and individual persons (Unitsone and two). The central controllers may also be accessed byindependent distributed terminals linked by suitable communicationsnetworks.

Each of the wireless units includes a local controller, circuitry,software, fuzzy logic and hardware capable of petting the device tofunction as a wireless communications device. The fuzzy logic hardwareand software is further capable of receiving, processing, storing, andcontrolling the device's power ON and OFF sequencing, accurately keepingtime and receiving and updating the programming sequencing and timecorrection.

Referring to FIG. 2, the standard operation of a mobile device isillustrated. The network assigns two unique numbers to the device. Thefirst number addresses the control channel transceiver and is referredto as the Mobile Identification Number (MIN) 8. The second numberaddresses the voice channel transceiver the familiar Telephone Number(TN) 9. The MIN and ESN pair forms an identifier (ID) of the device andthe TN is simply the telephone number of the device similar to telephonenumbers for any telephone system. In the present embodiment, thesequence of multiple units having unique ESNs, MINs, and TNs allow allfour devices to be operating at any time. For example, unit one turns on11 just before unit two tuns on 12, and unit one makes a call 13 justbefore unit two makes a call 14. Shortly thereafter unit three turns on15 and makes a call 16 just as unit four turns on 17 and makes a call18. At this point, all four units are on and communicating with thewireless system at the same time. The devices can end their calls and/orturn off independently 19. The wireless system monitors each deviceseparately for time on the system and for subsequent billing as eachunit has a unique ID.

If, however, multiple devices have the same MIN, ESN and TN and only onedevice is powered ON at a time, then the wireless network will havegreat difficulty recognizing which device is the original. It should benoted that as soon as a typical unit is power ON, the standard cellularunit immediately tries to contact the network to give the network theunit's ID so the network can process any communications for that unit.If, however, two units are ON simultaneously, the network will detect aconflict or communications collision and immediately recognize apotential fraudulent use of the network. This occurs when the secondunit tries to access the network while the fist unit is communicatingwith the network, the network knows the MIN/ESN pair ID is alreadyactivated and thus the network may assume the second unit is a fraud orclone of the first.

Referring to FIG. 3 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention,the timing sequencing for four devices is illustrates. In this case allfour devices have the same MIN, ESN, and TN 20. This figure illustratesa method for sequencing the devices such that Unit one tuns power ON 21,makes a call 22 on the network, ends the call 23, and turns power OFF 24while the other devices are off. Unit two performs a similar sequence25, followed by Unit tree 26, and Unit four 27. Only one unit is poweredON at any point in time.

Referring to FIG. 4 a sample timing sequence for such a system isillustrated. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, each of the fourunits can timeshare their MIN, ESN, and TN by using only an allocated 15minutes for each per hour of operation. Unit one powers ON and hasaccess to the network for the first fifteen minutes 28, and then powersOFF. Unit two has accessing to the network for the next fifteen minutes29, followed by Unit three 30, and Unit four 31 all without conflict.The sequence then repeats each hour 32, 33. In the present embodiment,the time of access for each device is programmed and stored in thedevice. Each of the devices includes a local controller, circuitry,software and hardware capable of receiving and storing the program andmeasuring time accurately.

In an alternate embodiment, the timing initially stored in the device asdescribed above can be altered, either temporarily or permanently, froma remote location. In order to explain how this can be achieved, thefunctionality of wireless communication is described. Referring to FIG.5, the typical functionality of a typical wireless phone cellulardevices during power ON and power OFF is illustrated. Wirelesscommunication utilizes cellular network control channels 38, voicechannels 39, cellular device activity channels 40, and control channels41. With respect to any wireless phone, the network control and voicecharnels are expected to be on and accessible 42 when a phone is turnedon 43. At powering ON the transceivers, the phone accesses the wirelessnetwork by activating the control channels transceiver 44 to communicatethe device's MIN/ESN ID and TN 45 to the network. The network receivesthe ID 46 and verifies the ID 47 with the networks accounting Systems.If the ID is valid, the network accepts the device 48 for use of thenetwork by reading the network for voice channel access and signaling onthe control channels 50. The network also instructs the device that itcan have access to the voice or data network, that is, it is ready todial 51.

At some time later, the device can call a telephone number world wideusing the standard telephony protocols 52 during which the controlchannels transceiver passes the device's ID and the dialed telephonenumber TN to the network 53. The network control channels setup theconnection 54 to the called phone and completes the connection 55. Thewireless device control channels recognize the connection engaging thecall on the voice or data channels 56 and the device control channelsrevert back to the idle ON condition 57. The network voice channelsfunctionally connect the voice or data call 59 and the network controlchannels relative to the device also reverts the idle ON condition 58.Upon the phone device ending of the call 60, the network terminates thevoice channel connection 61, and the device control channel functionsreturn to the condition of sending the device ID to the network 62. Thenetwork control channels receive the ID 63, verify the ID 64 and acceptthe device as ready to use the network for voice or data communications65. The device control channels acknowledge ready to dial 66, thenetwork voice channels recognize the device is allowed to dial 67, andthe device is actively ready to dial 68. If the device is powered off,the phone activity powers OFF the transceivers, the phone voice andcontrol channels deactivate, and the network control and voice channelscease to acknowledge the presence of the device until its activity ispowered ON and the process beg again.

In the present embodiment, necessary circuitry and subsystems areincluded in the local controller to receive a sequencing program and/oraccurate time update corrections. These adjustments can be made througha wireless network communication, a hardwired link, or a radiotransmission during any sequence wherein the device is turned ON.Furthermore, the central controller includes the necessary software,hardware, and fuzzy logic to download the program and time updates. Forthe cellular network system described above, these communications aredone using the voice or data channels of the device and most often wouldtransmit the communication using the voice transceiver. Thiscommunication follows the typical process described with reference toFIG. 5.

FIG. 6(a) is a schematic diagram of the overall operation of a system offour units all having the same ID and TN but only one unit being turn ONactive. FIG. 6(b) illustrates the method to assure no conflict withother units have the same ID and TN during the reprogrammed operation ofthe units. Give the four units of our example have been programmed byhardwired connection to the unit, i.e. not using the wireless network,so each unit accesses the network for fifteen minutes out of every hour,the central controller including necessary fuzzy logic, software andhardware can permit a user to implement a New 69, programming change toeach unit, utilizing communications to that unit during one or more ofits active network access time periods. If multiple time periods arerequired to complete communication of the reprogramming for each unit,then during the last period used for reprogramming each unit, the unitcould be told to use the new programming but only after an assignedwaiting period additionally included in the reprogramming instructionsto the local controller of the device unit be programmed; that is, thatit is to remain powered off for the assignable period of time sufficientfollowing its programming for the central controller to reprogram allthe units having the same ID and TN. The local controller will includethe circuitry, memory, software and hardware capability to maintain theprogram in memory storage and the clock function facilities during powerOFF of the device transceivers or the unit itself. Returning to FIG. 6,each unit is reprogrammed during one fifteen minute active sequence suchthat unit 1 is to turn on for five minutes every twenty minute startingon the next hour for a duration of two hours 70, and then revert to theold sequence of on for fifteen minutes on the hour 71. Unit two isreprogrammed to turn on for 10 minutes from twenty five to thirty fiveminutes after the hour during the next hour 72, and then revert back tothe old sequence of on for fifteen minutes every hour starting in thenext following hour 73. Unit three is reprogrammed to turn on once forfive minutes at five minutes after the next hour 74, and then turn ontwice for fifteen minutes at five minutes and at twenty five minutesafter the next following hour 75, and then revert back to the oldsequence of on for fifteen minutes every hour starting in the nextfollowing hour 76. Unit four is reprogrammed to turn on for ten minutesat ten minutes after the next hour 77, and then to turn on for fiveminutes at fifty five minutes after the next hour 78, and then revertback to the old sequence of on for fifteen minutes every hour startingin the next following hour 79.

FIG. 7(a) is a schematic diagram of the overall operation of a system offour units all having stored an unique MIN (#) and also having storedthe same general MIN/ESN ID and TN. Recall that the wireless networkfirst contacts a device by calling its control channels transceiverutilizing the MIN/ESN ID assigned to that unit. The central controllerincluding the necessary fuzzy logic, software, hardware and interfaceelectronics can connect to the device directly without utilizing thewireless network control channels, so as each unit can be loaded with aunique MIN and also load the general MIN/ESN ID and Telephone Number TNthat all units share. The wireless network will thus be able tocommunicate over the control channels with each unit independently orall simultaneously using each units unique MIN (#) and the general ESNas the ID and the network will also be able to communicate over thevoice or data channels with the specific unit which has been commandedby the central controller to switch to voice or data operation using thegeneral MIN/ESN and TN.

Referring to FIG. 7(a), the second embodiment is for the centralcontroller including the software, fuzzy logic, circuitry and hardwareto access control channels of the wireless network system to be use tocommunicate a command to a specific device to power ON in the conditionof using the general MIN/ESN and TN shared by all units but only turnedon for this specific unit and later to power OFF. This embodiment in ourfour device example utilizes the condition in which each unit has storedin its memory, a unique MIN (#) assigned to its control channelstransceiver in addition to the same MIN/ESN and telephone number TN thateach of the units have stored in memory. All four units are consideredto have their control channel transceivers powered ON utilizing theunits unique MIN and the general ESN as its ID and voice or datatransceiver powered off so thusly all units are continuouslyacknowledged and verified by the network control channel communicationsas active on the system.

In FIG. 7(b) the central controller has selected unit one with uniqueMIN (223) 4567891 and general ESN 12345678900 as its ID and to becommanded via communication on the units control channels 80, to poweron this unit's voice or data transceiver and switching operation of theunit 81, to that using the same MIN (223) 4567890 ESN 12345678900 ID and(123) 456-7890 TN and the voice channels transceiver activates and theunit is ready to make a voice call 82, and the network is ready toprocess calls 83. The unit can then make or receive a call 84, thenetwork connects the call 85, until the unit ends the call and is readyto make or receive a call 86, at which time the network returns itsstatus to ready to process calls 87. When the central controller wishesto command the unit to turn off the voice transceiver 88, this messagemust be sent via a voice call and the unit responses to this command andpowers the voice transceiver to powered OFF 89 and reverts the unit tooperation on the control channels using the unique MIN (#) and sharedESN ID, and the network returns its status to the idle conditionacknowledging of the unit as still active on the system 90.

Referring to FIG. 8 the central controller can utilize the capability toaccess any of the units independently as illustrated in FIG. 7(a), whereeach unit has a unique MIN (#) and therefore unique ID but all unitshave the same Telephone Number, TN, to which the costs of utilizing thewireless network can be legitimately billed and as all units are part ofthe central controller system, these billings will be non-fraudulent andlegal. The cellular device units include the fuzzy logic, electroniccircuitry, memory, software, hardware to be able to connect to thewireless network, to be able to await a command to get ready to receiveor make a voice or data call, receive or make the call, end the call andreceive the command to return to the idle but control channels ONcondition. This is illustrated in FIG. 8 where all units are consideredto have their control channels transceiver powered ON and thus all arecontinuously acknowledged and verified by the network control channelscommunications as active on the system 91. The network control channelsare also considered to be ON and active 90, and the central controllersystems are also ON and active 92. The central controller can decide tocall 93, a unit, say unit one of our four unit example, by sending acommand to the wireless network control channels 94, to connect to theunit with unique ID using unique MIN (1) (223) 456-7891 and shared ESN12345678900 of unit one which the network does using the controlchannels. The unit one connects 95, to the network and the networkacknowledges 96, to which the central controller can then send a commandsequence 97, to the network to tell unit one to get ready to receive avoice or data call and the network communicates his command sequence 98,to unit one and unit one receives the command sequence 99, and powers ONthe voice or data transceiver and switches 100, the unit to be operatingusing the shared MIN/ESN and TN making the unit ready to receive a voiceor data call and the network can acknowledge 101, the unit. Now thecentral controller can either send a voice or data call to unit one orthe unit itself can make or receive a voice call. The central controlleralso can now send a command sequence over the voice channels insistingthe unit to make a specified voice or data call such as calling into thecentral controller to report any information, sensor data, environmentalparameters or what ever the local controller associated with unit onehas to report. Clearly the central controller includes the software,fuzzy logic and data base systems needed to keep track of which unitsare operating on unique MIN (#) and make sure only one unit of thesharing group on units is commanded to operate using the shared MIN/ESNID and TN thereby avoiding communications collisions discussed earlier.

In FIG. 8 the central controller is shown sending a specific voice callsuch as downloading of data, parameters, software, voice scripts or anysuch information to unit one by sending the call 102, to the network towhich the network using the control channels sends 103, commands to unitone tells unit one a voice call is coming and unit one's controlcharnels receive the notice of a coming voice call and commands 104,unit one to receive a voice call and as unit one has switched to thevoice communications operation using the shared MIN/ESN ID and TN itreceives the call 105. Later, the central controller terminates the callby sending the call end message 106, to the network which sends a callend command 107, to unit one via the control channels to which the unitcontrol channels receive the end command 108, and terminate the call. Inthe FIG. 8 illustration it is shown that the message being sent from thecentral controller is to terminate the call and subsequently revert backto using the unique MIN (1) and shared ESN and TN and turn off the voicetransceiver 109. The unit one reverts to the idle condition of thecontrol channels ON and active 110 as are the network 111, and thecentral controller 112.

Referring to FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b), a schematic diagram of the overallfuzzy logic for operation of a unit comprising a local controllerassociated with a wireless device using shared MIN/ESN ID and TN workingin the condition where the device's local controllers have been loadedwith specific parameters allowing them to control their access to thewireless network without causing communications collisions due more thanone unit with de same MIN/ESN ID being powered ON and thus accessing thesystem at the same time is shown generally by numeral 200. FIG. 9(c) isa schematic diagram showing the fuzzy logic selection algorithm. Turningpower ON the local controller associated with the wireless device, thelocal controller is initialized according to the specific timingsequence parameters stored in its non-volatile memory and using fuzzylogic the unit waits until its computed time to activate 201 for aperiod of time T1. Thus activated; the local controller ties to contactthe wireless system for a period of time T0 and if unsuccessful, itwaits for a time T2 before repeating the contacting process and thisprocess can be repeated as many times a the logic permits which here202, is shown as three times after which the local controller powers OFFthe wireless device and resets to wait until the next system computedtime to activate the system again 201.

When the local controller and the wireless device successfully accessthe wireless network, the local controller activates the wireless deviceto be ready to receive a voice or data phone call 204, and unit waitsfor a call. If a call does not come during the computed duration time T1of access to the wireless network, then the local controller again 203,powers OFF the wireless device until the next system computed time toactivate the system at 201. If a call comes during the active access tothe wireless network, the system using fully logic decides 205, if thecall is a voice call and processes the call while checking 206, every T3time duration, to detect if the network access time period has elapsed.If the call is ended and the network access time has not elapsed thefuzzy logic returns to waiting for a call 204, but if the time haselapsed 207, the local controller powers OFF the wireless device andresets to wait until the next system computed time to activate thesystem again 201.

Referring to FIG. 10, a schematic diagram of the overall fuzzy logic foroperation of a multiple of units comprising a local controllerassociated with a wireless devices using shared MIN/ESN ID and TN aswell as an additional unique MIN is shown generally by numeral 300. Uponpower ON of the local controller, for say unit one, the controllerinitializes the unit with the parameters that have been stored in thelocal controller's non-volatile memory activating the wireless deviceusing 301, the unique MIN (1), and the shared ESN as the ID forcommunications on the wireless control channels. In our example of foursuch units, each would be activated and acknowledged by the wirelessnetwork and await calls 302, only on the control channels. When the callarrives the local controller fuzzy logic only recognized the call if itis a control channels only call, and processes 304, the call, andassesses if the call has a command action 305, needing response. If nocommand is received the local controller returns the system 302, towaiting for a call but if the call has a command and that command is toturn ON the voice channels, the local controller powers ON the voicetransceiver and activates the operation using the shared MIN/ESN ID andTN and returns the system 302 to waiting for a call but this time thecall can be a voice or data call. If the command is of another type, thelocal controller processes 307, the command with appropriate action,checks for other control channel calls and returns the system 302, towaiting for a call.

When then next call arrives the fuzzy logic decides if it is a controlchannels call and it processes the call by 304, as above but if itdecides the call is a voice or data call it processes 303, the call as avoice or data call and assesses 308, if the call has a command actionneeding response. If no command is received after processing the voiceor data call, the local controller returns the system 302, to waitingfor a call but if the call has a command and that command is to turn OFFthe voice channels, the local controller powers OFF 309, the voicetransceiver and activates the operation using the unique MS (1) and theshared ESN as ID for communications on the wireless control channels andreturns the system 302 to waiting for a call but this time the call canonly be a control channel call. If the command is of another type, thelocal controller processes 310, the command with appropriate action,checks for other voice or data calls and returns the system 302, towaiting for a call.

The system and method described above enables multiplexing the use of agiven pair of identifying codes in order to conserve wirelesscommunications resources. The current practice of assigning one phonenumber to each new device identification code accessing the networkimposes significant costs onto the communications network provider.These costs include establishing new phone numbers, expanding thenetwork data base system for each new number, expanding the telephonyswitching systems to handle the new numbers, expanding the automatedbilling systems to handle the new numbers, maintaining ever largernetwork systems to support more numbers. These costs to the networkproviders could be slashed by orders of magnitude through theapplication of the methods described herein. For example, assigning onephone number to 10 devices each with identical identification codesapproved for accessing the network could reduce these costs by a factorof 10 to 1. Furthermore, the network system providers could gain a 10 to1 increased income from more use of the network. All this improvement inefficient use of the network at reduced cost and increased income is inaddition to gains from conserving the frequency bandwidth and device'scalling phone number resources.

Even more significant gains could come from opening up new markets forthe network providers implementing these methods and apparatus. Thereare numerous low volume data reporting applications such as remotemetering devices, for example, which need to report small quantities ofdata on a regular, but infrequent basis. Wireless data transmission isan ideal solution but the fixed costs to network providers, andindirectly to end users, of maintaining a unique MIN/ESN pair for eachdevice make use of existing wireless networks too expensive to becommercially viable. Multiplexing of wireless devices could reduce costssubstantially with the result that such applications using “limitedtime” access to the network could bring new revenue streams to thenetwork providers without using up precious phone number and bandwidthresources.

Additionally, gains could be realized as the invention can be appliedacross multiple platforms, including but not limited to, analogue anddigits cellular phones, one-way pagers and two-way pagers.

Further, a significant saving is the cost saving in fees to access thesystem. The way most existing network systems operate is to charge anaccess fee, often fixed monthly, annually, or such like, for eachdevice, with its unique identification codes such as MIN/ESN, approvedto access the network. The methods described herein allow as manydevices that have been established with the same codes to access thenetwork for one fee. For methods where user share the same ESN and TN,but have a unique MIN, the extra cost is in the order of cents, and isthus usually insignificant. Additionally, network providers offer blocksof network access time packaged into the fixed fee-period. Applicationsthat require small amounts of access time per month are wasting accessthat is already paid for. The methods described above can multiplexthese applications so that the packaged access time could be utilizedfully in each fee-period is making up to 100% efficient use of theservice paid for by the user and provided by the network.

The number of devices that could be multiplexed is nearly limitless, anddepends many upon the length of power-on-time and the scheduling of thepower-on-time. As another example, if 1,440 devices are utilized and allgiven one minute of access, then in one day (1440 minutes) they allcould access, or be accessed by, the network system. An applicationexample of this use could be the automatic reporting of electricitymeter readings, where metering facilities at the electricity user'slocation could be appropriately equipped and programmed to call in to abilling office once per month to report the current electricity usagefrom the metering facility.

The main restriction is that it is preferable that no two wirelessdevices be powered on at the same time. This limit is a result of thefact that wireless communications network providers route messages to aspecific identification set of codes such as a MIN/ESN combination. As aresult, the network providers would be unable to route messagesappropriately if two or more devices with the same MI/ESNN combinationwere to access the network simultaneously. This restriction is not alimitation of the method disclosed.

The length of time any one device is powered on need not be a functionof any other device's on-time. The scheduling must be coordinated forall devices having the same codes, and this facility is preferably builtinto the devices themselves. The scheduling can be set or reset remotelyvia the communications network or a central calling facility sending thescheduling to the device configured to receive and store the schedule.The scheduling also could be loaded and stored into the device byphysically connecting it to a scheduling system or the device could havethe scheduling stored permanently in the device. In the event of a powerfailure to the device, when power is restored the device is configuredso that the transmitter component remains off. The power turns on whenthe device checks the scheduling or power on cycling sequence stored inthe device's non-volatile memory to determine when that device isscheduled to apply power to its transceiver.

Whether the wireless device initiates the call to the communicationsnetwork or a host central system calls the device, the function and thescheduling requirement are the same. In the case where the wirelessdevice is placing a call to the communications network, the device hasthe facility to maintain accurate time and have calling schedulingstored within the device. In the case where the centralized facilitycalls the device, the scheduling could be maintained in the centralfacility and the wireless device need only store the time of day andduration of power-on time. In both cases, the device is envisioned tofacilitate wireless updating of the time of day, the power-on durationand time of power-on.

In the case where the device automatically calls to a centralizedfacility to automatically report, the device is configured to havestored in its memory the scheduling of what information is to bereported, as well as the cycling sequence of current time of day, poweron duration, and the time of power on for the device's transceiver. Inthe case where a person is using the device to initiate a voice or datacall, the device still retains the cycling sequence of current time ofday, power on duration, and the time of power on for the device'stransceiver. The device can be configured to display to the user,current time and/or time remaining until the next transceiver power-oncycle and duration sequence for that device.

The applications for this multiplexing of devices is very broad and notlimited to the geographic location of the device, nor the wirelesscommunications system receiving facility, location nor the wirelesscommunications system itself. The applications include regular voicecommunications and data communications, and are not limited to the typeof networks or the protocols on which they operate. These protocolsinclude analogue AMPS, digital CDMA, GSM, TDMA, CDPD. Further, theapplication is not limited by the devices themselves, including cellularphones, pagers, personal assistants, or their operating systems.

The 10 device example could represent ten cellular telephones used byten people of a group, and each phone is programmed to access thenetwork only at preset times. The phone could be programmed such that italerts the user when its network system access time is active. In thisexample, each of the users in the group could make a voice call limitedin time to once per hour and limited in duration to 6 minutes.

The 1440 device example could represent 1440 electric meters whichinitiate the call, rapidly report data to a central facility, andterminate the call within one minute, and all 1440 within one day. Ifmeter readings are only needed once per month, and if the calls are eachone minute or less, then for a 30 day month 31,320 devices could reportmeter readings.

In an application where the device is located in a mobile unit, say avehicle, and if the location of the vehicle is important, the devicecould contain the apparatus and facility to access the globalpositioning system of satellites (GPS). In this case, the accurateupdating of time and date as well as position could be acquired from theGPS communications. The device could then also report the GPSinformation as well as the information for which the device was designedand implemented. Another example where the device could automaticallyupdate its stored time of day is where the device is configured toconnect with a source of time calibrations such as the standardbroadcast time signals from WWV, in the USA, or CHU, in Canada and thelike.

In any of these applications, the limited duration of a call by any onedevice, and hence the limit of information communicated during a call,could be augmented by the device having the facility to segment theinformation to be transmitted. The device could begin transmittinginformation and as the transmission progressed, the device couldrecognize that the call termination time limit was near. The device socould close the current information transmission and terminate the callwithin the time limit, such that the device could continue thetransmission in the next allowed transmitter power-on cycle, continuingfrom the point at which it left off in the previous call. This way,there is virtually no limit on the amount of information transmittedfrom any given device. The facility being called would need to have theappropriate facility to receive segmented information and be able toreassemble these segments for a complete message. Error correctionmethods familiar to the technology could be incorporated in both thedevices and the central facility to assure any messages or segmentsreceived or interrupted could be retransmitted so that messages could besuccessfully assembled.

The terms and expressions which have been employed in this specificationare used as terms of description and not of limitations, there is nointention in the use of such terms and expressions to exclude anyequivalence of the features shown and described or portions thereof.While the invention has been described in connection with the specificembodiments thereof, and in a specific use, various modifications willbe apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from thespirit of the invention as set forth in the claims appended hereto.

1. A method for multiplexing a plurality of wireless devices with awireless network, each of said wireless devices sharing a commontelephone number, said method comprising the steps of: (a) assigning apredefined access time for each of said wireless devices; (b) assigninga predefined length of time during which each of said wireless deviceswill have access to said wireless network; (c) initiating a sequence ofaccesses to said wireless network in accordance with said predefinedaccess time and said predefined length of time such that a maximum ofone of said wireless devices accesses said local network at a time.